Debating Islam (15 May 2016 NewAgeIslam.Com)

Reform Muslim Personal Law, Use Debate on Triple Talaq as an opportunity to Breach the Stagnation in Muslim Religious Thought

By Sultan Shahin, Editor, New Age Islam

14 May, 2016

Pakistan reformed Muslim personal laws more than half a century ago, while Bangladesh, after its independence from Pakistan, has instituted further reforms.

Muslim personal law is once again facing legal challenge. But most ominous for the self-declared guardians of Islamic Sharia in India is the societal challenge. Unlike the Shah Bano case three decades ago, Saira Bano’s plea now has many outspoken supporters within the community. Ulema from Muslim Personal Law Board are facing tough theological questions even on television debates. I myself asked a Board member to show in the Quran where it allows instant divorce even as “Isharat al-nas” (alluded/indicative meaning).

Faced with a barrage of questions, the ulema have now decided to challenge the progressive Muslims on their theological knowledge and more importantly, the courage, to stand up to their beliefs. At the same time, they are blaming progressive Muslims for encouraging courts to intervene, while taking their regular subversive position that courts and government should not intervene in matters of Muslim Personal Law as it is a matter of faith.

Rather than being cowed into silence or even dismiss this challenge as an effort to obfuscate matters, progressive Muslims should pick up the gauntlet and battle it out. This should be used as a great opportunity to breach the total stagnation that has prevailed in Islamic theological debates in the country. This will not only help the victims of our Anglo-Mohammedan Personal Law but also help open up issues related to violent extremism that is attracting our youth more and more in the absence of debate. For instance, accepting that triple talaq is not a part of Quranic teachings or even Hadith (sayings of the Prophet). A classical Muslim scholar, Hafeez Nomani, has asked if Quran alone is legitimate Islamic scripture and whether a bid’at (innovation) like triple talaq ordered by the second Caliph Hazrat Umar cannot be considered legitimate. He then goes on to ask that if triple talaq cannot be accepted, as it is a bid’at, then what about Quran, which in its present form is itself an innovation ordered by the same caliph and completed by the third Caliph Hazrat Usman.

These are among the issues that Muslims need to debate urgently for the wider good of the community as well as the nation and the world. We must never forget the solemn warning issued by Canadian scholar Winfred Cantwell Smith in mid-20th century that a healthy, functioning Islam is crucial for world peace. Clearly, the Islam today is not healthy and functioning. So it is not only the Muslims but the nation at large that should welcome an opportunity to debate and understand Islamic theological issues.

But first some facts related to the backdrop in which this debate is taking place. A victim of instant triple talaq, Saira Bano, has sought mandamus in Supreme Court declaring the practices of instant divorce called Talaq-e-Bidat, Nikah-Halala and polygamy under Muslim personal laws as illegal and unconstitutional for being violative of Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution. The Muslim Personal Law Board has decided to oppose any move to scrap triple-talaq.

Saira Bano is not alone. A new study indicates that 92.1% of Muslim women in India want a total ban on instant oral divorce. The report was released by Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA). The report gives the following details: “Women are being informed of their divorce via telephone, text message, and even social media with reasons ranging from poor cooking skills to wardrobe and accessories choices under the current system.”

Among several progressive Muslim scholars, including from BMMA and New Age Islam Foundation agitating for reform in Muslim Personal Law, noted jurist Tahir Mahmood has also said that the triple talaq is an absurdity that militates against the words and spirit of the Quran and sayings of the Prophet.

In a comment on NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed, a researcher devoted to Quranic studies describes the process of a Muslim divorce in this way: “The divorce process starts with a verbal divorce followed by a period of 4 months or three menstrual cycles during which the woman stays in her husband’s home. If during this period or before the actual physical divorce, if they cohabit the divorce is off. The actual physical divorce means living separately as a divorced couple after the final pronouncement of the divorce at the end of the 4-month period. The number of times ‘talaq’ is said is immaterial. It must be said at least twice with a gap of 4 months as described above. The final pronouncement should preferably be in the presence of arbitrators if the arbitration has failed to make them change their minds. They can reunite and call the divorce off any time before the final separation takes place and they start living separately as a divorced couple. Once the physical divorce has taken place and they start living separately, they cannot reunite except through a fresh marriage which has conditions attached. Any other process is not in accordance with the shariat of the Quran.”

Renowned Islamic scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamdi interprets the Quranic concept of divorce, explained in several verses, in the following words: “If a husband has decided to divorce his wife, he should first wait until she has completed her menstrual cycle and then desisting from any further carnal relationship, he should utter the divorce sentence just once. The wife, after she has been divorced in this way, must stay in her husband’s house for a period of three menstrual cycles... If after this period of Iddat, a man is still firm in his stance, his wife shall be considered as separated permanently. She is now a free woman and if she wishes to marry some other person, she has all the right to do so and must not be inhibited in any way.”

However, the issue is not just triple or instant divorce, but reform of Muslim personal law itself. Consequently, the demand should not be made only to ban the rampant tyranny of triple talaq. This is one of the evils emanating from the personal laws instituted for Muslims by the British. Hardly any Muslim in India follows the Quran-based practice of divorce in three stages, encompassing three menstrual cycles.

After Independence from the British, a united Pakistan had refused to accept the Anglo-Mohammedan Law and reformed its personal law in 1961. These reforms have passed the test of time. Pakistan has since gone through much upheaval including an era of Nizam-e-Mustafa under President General Ziaul Haq, in which even traditional pre-Islamic forms of punishment like whips and lashes and public flogging were practised. So what progressive Muslims in India should be and indeed have been demanding for long is reforms in Muslim personal law itself.

Reform of Muslim personal law is the need of the hour. A demand for this has been made for decades in conferences, seminars and marches, organised by several progressive Islamic organisations including New Age Islam Foundation. These demands need to be intensified and peaceful demonstrations organised on a large scale, demanding that the government reform these laws. It will inevitably be opposed and equally inevitably expose the two-facedness of Islamic fundamentalists in the country. This would lead to a much needed debate on the hypocrisy of our ulema.

It is for Government of India to take a call in the matter. Why should Indian Muslim women not deserve the protection of Islam provided to their counterparts in Pakistan, Bangladesh and elsewhere, practically in the entire Islamic world, except Saudi Arabia? Countries like Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Morocco, even Yemen and Sudan have more modern Muslim personal laws. Why should Indian Muslims suffer the indignities imposed by the British under an Anglo-Mohammedan law? Particularly so as the Muslim-majority countries formed as a result of the unfortunate partition of the country have already thrown away the yoke of the British imposed personal laws. Indeed, Pakistan reformed Muslim personal laws more than half a century ago. After its independence from Pakistan, Bangladesh has instituted further reforms, making it a more modern country. Indian Muslims are the only one in the region lagging behind.

The government should forthwith promulgate a reformed Muslim personal law on the basis of President Ayyub Khan’s reforms in Pakistan in the early 1960s, though this too will require slight changes, particularly in the ages of marriage fixed for boys and girls fixed at that time. For the moment, I am not suggesting Moroccan or Tunisian reforms, though they are the latest and more modern, as this might give our ulema an excuse to claim fiqhi (jurisprudential) differences. But with Pakistan and Bangladesh we have no such differences. I am giving here a summary of the Ayyub Khan-amended personal laws. You will notice that even in these amended laws the marriage age is fixed at 14 for female and 16 for male. This must have been progressive for the time, perhaps even today in Pakistan. I hope that is not the case in India. But when Saudi Arabia allows girls to be married at one and for marriages to be consummated at nine, this certainly was progressive. But India should not accept that and the age of marriage should be fixed according to contemporary standards.

An idea of the scope of these reforms can be had from the following excerpts from an essay, Forced Modernization and Public Policy: A Case Study of Ayub Khan Era (1958-69) by Sarfraz Husain Ansari: “The Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961 provided that marriages and divorces be registered; permission be sought from the court for second and subsequent marriage(s); divorce be effective only after it had been approved by the court; minimum age for marriage be fixed at 14 for female and 16 for male; and a grandson of a predeceased son be allowed to inherit property of his grandfather.

“The Ordinance is regarded as ‘the first step toward modernization of family life’ (Jr.,1975) and ‘the most progressive interpretation of Muslims family law to be implemented in the subcontinent’ (Rosenbloom, 1995).

“In addition to the Ordinance, the Child Marriage Restraint Act and Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act were also enacted in 1961. It was only after outmanoeuvring the ulama that Ayub Khan had got passed the bill from the National Assembly. These Acts and Ordinance discouraged polygamy, protected the rights of wives and granted the rights of inheritance to grandchildren (Wriggins, 1975).”

Clearly some changes will have to be made even in the Ayyub Khan-amended personal laws for Muslims. But India should not tolerate these archaic and un-Islamic personal laws for Muslims. But, to my mind, the most important benefit would be the opening up of a theological debate within the community. This has already started to a certain extent. Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, secretary of the Personal Law Board has reacted sharply to the statement of Dr Tahir Mahmood and has called it a conspiracy for creating misunderstanding and breaking the brotherhood of Millat e Islamia.

The most dangerous and subversive statement that the maulana, however, makes is the following: “This issue is not related to the laws of the country but it is an issue related to Fatwa. Hence this issue should be dealt with by reliable scholars of Islamic jurisdiction.”

The maulana should understand that the Muslims are as much subject to the Indian Constitution and its interpretation by the Supreme Court of India as any other citizen. Muslim personal law is a part of the Constitution and the Supreme Court has every right to interpret it in the way it considers best. Progressive Muslims are not committing a sin by encouraging the courts to intervene in the matter. It is the right and duty of the courts to look after the welfare of the citizens in accordance with the Constitution.

A debate kick-started by personal law reforms may then provide us with the opportunity to take the issue of theological reforms to other areas too, which are far more important to the community and our religion. The personal law debate would bring out the obscurantism of our ulema to the fore. It would bring out their lack of concern for Islam or Muslims.

The stagnation, the total lack of any theological debate in the Muslim community has to be breached and broken. The stagnation suits the Islamist extremists who have a very coherent, well-designed, well-thought-out theology of violence and exclusivism, hatred and intolerance, as well as gender inequality and discrimination. This theology is also being taught in our universities and madrasas. I hope progressive Muslims will grab the bull by its horns and widen the debate. We have to virtually create, find acceptance for and popularise a new Islamic theology of peace, coexistence, inclusiveness, pluralism and gender equality.

TOTAL COMMENTS:- &nbsp 60

I would like to say some basic facts concerning triple
talaq, Halala, and polygamy. As I have stated in another thread, sex is an
inexorable law of nature and particularly men can easily fall into temptation
at the flip of a skirt. Men are more
inclined to use triple talaq on flimsy ground as by nature they are polygamist
and women monogamist. While everyone is harsh towards women, the second great
prophet of Islam is very tough on men.
He said “ I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has
already committed adultery with her in his heart” We know when we look at our sister-in-law,
mother-in-law, daughter in law or at a house maid, lustfully soon we run into
problems that cannot be easily repaired. We run away from homes. Was it not a
pathetic sight when the US president Bill Clinton, who had an affair with Monica
Lewinsky, appeared on TV sweating and said “I am a sinner” to the whole world.

Any family becomes a disaster when the head of the family
looks for second or third wife, where women cannot be the object of love but of
carnal relationship. Allah has originally intended a nuclear family when he
created Adam and Eve and said “ The man shall leave his father and mother and
cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh” Only in a nuclear family
possibilities are there to have a truly conjugal love and affection and
intimate love and concern for children. When men have extra marital affairs or
in a polygamous marriage they cannot fully satisfy their wives sexually unless
they do hard physical job or aerobic exercises. Their heightened and passionate
affair with the other make them selfish and do not adequately prepare their
wives and often play like the keyed doll for few minutes and start snoring,
ignoring wife’s shouting “little more” “little more”. Sexually aroused women
without reaching orgasm become nervous wreck. Men often beat and rape them or
pronounce triple talaq. It is really a tragic thing when an ideology that allows
men to have multiple wives and at the same time allows them to beat their wives
for refusing sex. Untold inner suffering
of Indian Muslim women reflects on their opinion; 91% want to abolish triple
talaq. Why Halala is another tragic
thing, because when orgasm takes place with another man “two-become-one-flesh”
is pronounced. This indelible impression comes to the woman’s mind from time to
time and destroys her family life. Allah says “Don’t you know that he who
unites with a prostitute is one with her in body”

Any community that encourages polygamous marriages will end
up in poverty. Let us imagine a family of four wives and forty children in
rural Africa or Afghanistan. Mind becomes sharpen and expand when one has inner
struggle and tries to control the impulses. This does not happen in polygamous
family structure. “Don’t make America poor” warned US government to Mormons a
religion founded by Joseph Smith that exhorts polygamous marriage.

“Controlling the impulse is the first principle of
civilization” said Will Durant. To the question of Play boy magazine US
president Jimmy Carter replied “ I never touched any other woman in my life but
sometimes with my mind for that I ask forgiveness from God” I watch Arab
Israeli conflict for the last 25 years and never heard that an Israeli soldier
raped an Arab woman. That speaks volumes about ‘controlling the impulse’ that
leads to the fact 14 million Jews produced more than 180 Nobel laureates. As
far as the voluntary chastity is concerned Jewish women rank first.in the
world.

I don’t think the members of the Sharia Committee are
sophisticated enough to understand the issues involved in triple talaq and
Halala. These Madrasa graduates cannot raise a simple question “ Will the
abolition of triple talaq and Halala empower the women and maximise the
well-being of Muslims?

By Royalj - 6/30/2016 4:46:01 AM

Assalamoallaikum to all
of you: I can't understand Muslim can
be such stupid, they don’t rationalize the ground and fundamental of Sharia Low
came from, there is no such Law, which we can call as sharia law, it is all manipulated
scripts, compiled by those people who was fighting after the death of Mohammad.
Don’t you think rather than just blindly saying sharia law can’t change, don’t
you guys have brain to think those folks can fight after the death of Mohammad
they haven’t manuscripted their own personal low.

Quran has entire chapter
regarding Tilaq and their procedure.

sURAH 65:- SAHIH
INTERNATIONAL

O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women,
divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of
the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their
[husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period]
unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set
by] Allah. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged
himself. You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different]
matter.

And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their
term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them
according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you
and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed
to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah -
He will make for him a way out

65:3

And will provide for him from where he does
not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him.
Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything
a [decreed] extent.

65:4

And those who no longer expect menstruation
among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also
for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term
is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his
matter ease.

65:5

That is the command of Allah , which He has
sent down to you; and whoever fears Allah - He will remove for him his misdeeds
and make great for him his reward.

65:6

Lodge them [in a section] of where you dwell
out of your means and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they
should be pregnant, then spend on them until they give birth. And if they
breastfeed for you, then give them their payment and confer among yourselves in
the acceptable way; but if you are in discord, then there may breastfeed for
the father another woman.

65:7

Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and
he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allah has given him.
Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allah
will bring about, after hardship, ease.

65:8

And how many a city
was insolent toward the command of its Lord and His messengers, so We took it
to severe account and punished it with a terrible punishment.

65:9

And it tasted the bad consequence of its
affair, and the outcome of its affair was loss.

Do some rationalize study
rather than showing true Muslims and true follower.

By Syed Mohd Sanaullah - 6/1/2016 5:24:09 PM

Triple talak has become a big issue in India. Fortunately in Sri Lanka it is not allowed. Our beloved Prophet permitted women to go Masjid, it was Hazarath Omar who stopped it. Yet today women are permitted to go the Masjid for their prayers. Male chauvinism must end and women should find their right place in Islam. By Zarook M.C.M. - 5/26/2016 12:50:39 PM

Yes, but who will bell the cat , Sir? Even if AIMPLB is brought around, the likes of Maulana Mulayam, Osama Digvijay, Rahul Afzal and Abubakr Sitaram Yechudi will sabotage it , if necessary, through religious rioting and RSS-BJP will be blamed for all this. By Dereck Darlong - 5/18/2016 11:58:22 AM

The rules of Islam will never change but God has given the human beings authority to act as per their will but there's a way given by God and His prophet to lead life. The result is that one who leads his or her life in accordance with the laws of God, he or she will get reward and those who don't care for the divine laws will also get reward. But there is a lot of hardships in following the divine laws but in Islam coercion is strictly prohibited in performing religious laws, everybody is free to do whatever they want. The issue of triple talaq also falls under the divine law but one is free to take talaq or to give talaq according to the so called civilised or modernised or progressive humans. By forming a collective or consensual law by the materialistic progressive world community ,the divine law will not change. By Raihan Raza Raza - 5/18/2016 11:53:07 AM

@Llu samir patel..first prayers are important then place as well..

Why men are asked to pray in masjids has reasons..one i may sum up in a couplet..

Ek hi saff mai khede mehmood o ayaz

Na koi banda raha na banda e nawaz..

By Faisal Wani - 5/18/2016 11:52:05 AM

@ U.p. Ojha i hoped that after getting defeated in previous debates of this post on basis of LOGIC and rationale thinking you will no try your luck again. so what are you doing to make caste convertible. when sangh pariwar is going to promote some of their lower caste members to higher varna By Iqbal Husain - 5/18/2016 11:47:00 AM

New Age Islam's post.

Nicely articulated.Worth reading.Reform of any society must come from within the society concerned.We must not be prisoner of 1400 yrs back thoughts .

By Mosarraf Hossain - 5/18/2016 12:14:52 AM

Mr Sultan Sahin with great respect you are requested to put into public the Islamic thoughts which are stagnant and what is your view on triple Talaq

By Mohd Yunus - 5/18/2016 12:13:26 AM

Who the hell is one to challenge the shariat laws

By Shamim Anwar - 5/18/2016 12:12:27 AM

If Islamic way of divorce is abolished, nobody would like to go to court for divorce as it takes decades of long process. The Muslims would also start burning their brides and killing them in order to get rid of them as other religious people do. By Raihan Nezami - 5/17/2016 10:39:16 AM

@Iqbal Husain- I have not seen a single person like you as mullah in your mosques. Mullah positions are hereditary position and we know that. Those who preach your religion are picked up from maddrasas and that is where the world is foccussed today. There are many non brahmins also as priests. If you are not aware, can't be helped. None of the temple are known to distribute charities as Sanathan society doesn't believe in increasing numbers by conversion. By the way , stick to your communitys problems as described in the article instead of directing your focus to practices in other religions. That would be healthy.

@Patel- Yes the female needs to stay at home, take care of children or avoid staring eyes.

By Sridhar Santhanam - 5/17/2016 10:27:23 AM

@Soumen Mitra i have not seen any single non brahmin priest in temples. even distribution of charity is given to one caste only. By Iqbal Husain - 5/17/2016 10:24:49 AM

@Faisal Wani but she can go. she has other option to pray at home. and in India women prefer to pray at home. by the way what is important? prayer or place of worship? for male it is compulsory to pray in masjid. but for women it is not so as she has to look after children By Ilu Samir Patel - 5/17/2016 10:24:22 AM

It's an attempt to deregulate muslim law rather than feminism development By Athar Mudasir - 5/17/2016 9:14:27 AM